New York Gov. Kathy Hochul vowed Tuesday to direct the regulator of the largest U.S. sports betting market to employ new measures to ensure that underage residents and visitors to the Empire State are not able to access licensed sportsbooks.
In her “State of the State” packet unveiled on Jan. 13, Hochul detailed numerous measures that she intends to utilize to protect New York minors from various harms, including stronger age verifications on social media sites and disabling location sharing and the use of AI chatbots.
“And let’s do more to cut off access to online sports gaming so that kinds are not ensnared by addiction at a young age,” she added to attendees at her address on Tuesday.
Biometrics key, says Hochul
In the 164-page agenda for her State of the State plan, Hochul’s office shared more information on how she intends to do this.
“As online sports betting becomes immensely popular, and new, more accessible online gambling platforms become more sophisticated, it is essential to ensure that young people are protected from the harmful effects of gamified sports betting,” reads a section of the packet. “Governor Hochul will direct the Gaming Commission to explore effective ways to ensure young people are not illegally downloading betting apps, creating accounts, or using the accounts of others, including the use of biometric approaches.
“These actions will protect young people from the harms of online betting, which include significant financial loss and addictive behavior.”
The use of biometric approaches could include using technology such as fingerprint scanners or face scanners for identity verification, ostensibly with the aim of ensuring that users under the age of 21 cannot access regulated sportsbooks.
We’ll consider it, says Gaming Commission
In a statement, the NYSGC said that it “fully supports and applauds” Hochul’s commitment to add further safeguards and employ more technology to prevent underage individuals from gambling and help people who may be experiencing gambling harms.
“The Commission will consider actions to prevent underage access, including the possibility of biometric requirements for account access and real consequences for those who share their legal accounts with underage individuals,” said Chairman Brian O’Dwyer. “We will also continue to work with OASAS [the government Office of Addiction Services and Supports] to implement the latest technology into the online sports wagering process to best position access to help for those who need it.”
Legislative bills would alter New York gaming market
While Hochul is asking the NYSGC to step up, several lawmakers have bills in play for 2026 that would change New York’s sports betting market in one way or another.
Asm. Carrie Woerner and Sen. Joe Addabbo in particular have each sponsored a range of legislative efforts, including a joint push to raise the minimum age for all forms of gambling in the state to 21. While sports betting already uses that cut-off, the minimum age for wagering on fantasy sports, most traditional lottery games, pari-mutuel racing and some social gaming is 18. Addabbo said he supports Hochul’s proposal and looks forward to New York implementing additional measures to protect minors from online gambling.
One Woerner-specific player protection proposal would change how sportsbooks can offer problem gambling support, while another would establish a funded problem gambling research institute. Addabbo also introduced a measure to mandate that insurance policies that provide medical or comprehensive coverage must also cover outpatient services related to diagnosing and treating problem gambling.
Both Woerner and Addabbo also want to expand online gaming in New York. Woerner has re-filed a bill that would allow the NYSGC to increase the number of online sports betting licenses it awards to operators, while Addabbo is pushing yet again to legalize online casino. He urged Hochul to legalize iGaming in his statement on Wednesday, arguing the benefits of regulating online casino gaming like sports betting.
